Panasonic's KX-PRX120, besides having a sexy name, is quite the handset. It runs Ice Cream Sandwich, has access to the Play Store, and sports a 3.5 inch touch-screen that would not look out on place on display next to any other budget smartphone. The thing is, buyers won't want to tote it around town. This digital cordless phone is too timid for that lifestyle and works best within the confines of its own home.

Consider this a premium cordless phone for people who still, well, need dedicated landlines and perhaps lack access to a smartphone with the same functionality. It's a smartphone for people who don't need, like, or want smartphones. It straddles the line somewhere between a Samsung Galaxy Player and a Galaxy S4. The former gives consumers the fun of Android without the burden of a wireless plan, while the latter provides the full freedom to use it anywhere. Panasonic's offering doesn't have the range of a smartphone, but it does bring media consumption and video phone capability to a dedicated landline. Here are the specs:

It's a sign of the times that it takes a deal of effort to understand who this phone is actually for. In a parallel universe, this, rather than mobile phones, would be the natural evolution of the telephone. Now it's simply kind of quaint.

Well, 18 doesn't sound entirely arbitrary to me, it sounds like, "until you're a legal adult." Which implies that somehow it's such a massive level of responsibility that it justifies needing age of majority to handle. That's the part I don't agree with. I think teenagers pretty much rely on this tech now, and for good reason.

Oh, definitely. The base figures for maturity and adulthood (16 for driving, 18 for adulthood and smoking and sex with your choice of partner, 21 for drinking, etc.) are quite silly because they ignore variation in humans. I know 40-year-olds who aren't ready for any of that, and some 13-year-olds who make me feel like a child.

But that DOES inform the comment I was making, too: as a parent, it's our job to evaluate our kids individually and see what their actual maturity level is, outside of what perceived standards are. In which case, arbitrarily picking age of majority seems silly. At that point I'd be more likely to assume the parent just doesn't want to pay for it themselves. Then again, what's to prevent a teenager from doing so?

I suppose I've got 10 years to augment my stance but, as it is, she's stuck with me. I keep telling her she's lucky to be able to watch cartoons in HD (I tried explaining the annoyance of rabbit-ears), and have netflix in her room.

mechapathy

"In my day we had to stand like this, uphill both ways, just to watch Captain Kangaroo!"

Yeah, I just realize that the standards and needs shift rather quickly. 10 years ago it was insane to assume a minor needed a cell phone at all. Now I can't imagine denying my 11-year-old daughter one (with very, very limited usage, obviously). I personally can't imagine her going past 15 without a smartphone, and I think that age is just going to shift further and further downward.

Thomas Anders

I was joking w/ my Wife that we'll get her a jitterbug phone when she's of driving age. http://bit.ly/13vJq9m

Two of them, which is exactly why I have perspective on the fact that they'll likely need smart phones before they reach the age of majority.

Rob Cook

I've got a 16yr old and she doesn't need a smart phone at all. Cell phone sure, smart phone with data, no not at all. We tried giving her an old iPhone with a limited data plan with the understanding that she was not to abuse the plan. We had overages 4 months straight. She got a dumb phone the next month. Smart girl too, advanced placement IB classes, speaks 2 languages etc. Tumblr was just too damn addictive...

Baleeted

This is why unlimited data should be free, as standard. don't mobile contracts cost enough as it is?

I don't deal with post-paid, limited data plans anymore. I have $45 unlimited data for myself. I'd do similar for my kids when the time comes. As it is, with her dumb phone, my daughter gets 750 minutes a month and on the last day she goes crazy calling everyone she can to try not to waste the unused ones. By the time she needs a smartphone I expect major shifts in carrier billing standards, anyway.

Đức Thành

It's been 2 years and I gotta ask, did things change? What does your daughter, now being 18, think of a smartphone and/or having one?

I like this recap. I just replied to him with my own update: my 13-year-old has my old Nexus 5 with a 10GB data plan and has 9.2GB left with 8 days to go in the billing cycle.

Rob Cook

So after changing plans on AT&T to a family plan with shared data and also getting a promotional bump to 15Gb/mo we allowed her to get a smart phone if: she bought it and allowed me to set data limits as well as Android device manager up. So far it's been fine. This was about 10 months ago.

Since someone liked a comment of mine today, it drudged this topic up for me, and I thought I'd provide an update now that my daughter's 13:

She has my Nexus 5, on T-Mobile, on my family plan, with 10GB of high-speed data, plus rollover data. So far this month, with 8 days left, she's used about 800MB. I think we're doing just fine.

Andrew

What it has GPS for?

mav

GPS is included in the SoC

Andrew

Yes, but it can be disabled by software. I mean there FM radio receiver in most radio chips, but is it enabled?
Actually, there is much more obvious example: LTE and Nexus 4.

RedPandaAlex

I wouldn't be surprised if GPS is required by Google for play store access. All tablets I know of have it, even those that are wi-fi only.

Andrew

It may be the case. But even wi-fi only tablets are considered mobile devices, that you will take outside. But landline phone, I'm not so sure.

Zhuowei

Kobo Arc doesn't have GPS and can access Play.

ins0mn1a

in-house navigation? now seriously, it is conceivable to pre-load maps to it and take it out. it would behave exactly the same like a small wifi only tablet. hopefully there is nobody left at home though, because you just took away the landline phone ;).

Andrew

Well, given zombie apocalypse can start any time, it must be nice to have backup GPS navigator.

ins0mn1a

just remember to download the maps before the network goes down.

Robert Macri

Why not just get a tablet or use someone's old smartphone around the house?

My parents – who are not what I would call technologically-challenged – have multiple landlines in their house. I believe there are still LOTS of people who still use landlines.

I've been on my own since about 2001 and have never actually had anything other than a cell phone, so I understand the trend and even follow it myself, but I think this is one of those generational things.

Leonardo Baez

you need to stop thinking that you situtation make sense for the entire world. Landline are still most used in most countries

Robert Macri

touche.

wolfkabal

Pair this with an OBi or something for gVoice, and I can see it being a great "home" phone.

atlouiedog

I'd rather see a base station that interfaces with an app over wifi so one could use any device they want.

My parents live in the middle of nowhere and can't use cell service at home. Their internet access is also a bit too spotty for voip or an airave like device.

Robert Alex Kibler

That's... a really good idea.

Bill Joyce

I have a niece who uses her iPod Touch similarly and would be thrilled if it would also do voice. There is a market, remember many families will not allow their kids to have smartphones since they can't or won't handle the data charges, especially data overage charges. They also want to control their kids interactions to a degree, so only being able to use it at home has appeal. I also see it as an option for people who want to experiment with smartphone capabilities but don't want a cell phone, mainly seniors.

Mandeep Singh

What the hell man

siypion

I can see this product being used as a business phone for an office it would allow the user to take call around the office transfer files check email and voice/video chat with others to coordinate with each other, my only complaint is that there is no sim card slot so that out of office work can be conducted, and linked back. To the landline.

Major_Pita

Actually, you could probably run a VOIP app like Viber and use the phone when you're out and about using somebody's free WiFi. It would be sort of the like current form of 'finding a payphone' to make a call, only over WiFi instead. Ah, the nostalgia...

Mike Harris

The current line of Audis (at least some, if not all) come with a wi-fi hotspot. If you had one of these, you could easily use a VOIP app to make calls while away from home.

Why do people still want a landline? I have 400 minutes voice plan -- for the whole family. My VoIP line only costs me $8.99 a month. Both my wife and I work at home, so voice call originates from within my home most of the times. Having a landline allows me to save money by picking the cheapest voice plan.

Jeremy Martin

Time for CyanogenMod for this phone :)

Topi Baz

Have people gone crazy on the comments pages or is it me. It's only a phone. What did I do wrong? I was only reading an innocent article. Now I'm full of guilt realising the harm unleashed by this poor poor innocent child–like, babe in arms. Oh forgive me, I am a sinner..

Jaime

Galaxy Ace is that you?

Ursula

VERY Cool Idea. ICan See This Shooting Off Once The Budgets Come In

Duncan_J

Great, now release the base station as a standalone and an app for any phone

WhyWai

It's actually quite ok idea. I will use one if the price is acceptable. only thing seem clueless is the GPS. what is it for if this is a home phone?

Michael Pahl

might have to do with 911 or something?

Nethaby

I'm down with landlines. My neighbors and I are in the country, on the fringes of the cell service super highway. Reception is spotty with one provider and nonexistant, literally, on all the others. And this isn't just a rural thing. A colleague of mine in suburban DC, of all places, is out of range. My dad has a pacemaker, which requires a landline for monthly checks. Plus, I like having a phone (rotary, in the kitchen) that doesn't depend on electricity to function.